| Online: | |
| Visits: | |
| Stories: |
Skeleton Lake and the mystery of the ancient remains frozen in time in a desolate valley of the Himalayas
Skeleton Lake and the mystery of the ancient remains frozen in time in a desolate valley of the Himalayas
Imagine a frozen lake which, upon melting each year, reveals the unnerving sight of the remains of more than 300 people. A small lake known as Roopkund Lake sits high in the Indian Himalayas, more than 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) above sea level. Covered in ice and surrounded by rocky glaciers, the lake appears to be a typical, albeit beautiful, natural wonder. However, during one month of the year, when the ice melts away and the bottom of the shallow lake becomes visible, the true nature of the lake reveals itself. At the bottom of the lake are hundreds of mysterious human skeletons. There have been efforts to determine who these people were, where they were from, and how they died, buy many questions still remain unanswered about the skeletons at Roopkund – now referred to as Skeleton Lake.
Roopkund Lake likes in the harsh terrain of the Himalayas. Credit: Atul Sunsunwal / flickr
Roopkund Lake is located at the bottom of a small valley in the Himalayas, in Chamoli district, Uttaranchal, in India. The lake is very shallow, with its greatest depth at approximately 2 meters. The area is a popular destination for adventurous tourists, due to the spectacular trek to get there. There are several trekking routes on the way to Roopkund, which many take advantage of, both for the picturesque view, and to satisfy the curiosity and intrigue surrounding the skeletal remains.
